Euro 2012: The Bayern-Germany connection
June, 2, 2012
6/02/12
1:20
PM ET
By
Patrick Dorsey | ESPN.com
UEFA Euro 2012, one of soccer's top international competitions, kicks off June 8. In anticipation of this eagerly awaited event, Playbook is teaming up with ESPN FC to offer sights and other delights from each participating nation.
Bayern Munich lost the UEFA Champions League final in heartbreaking fashion. But many of the club's players might not need wait long for redemption.
And we mean many. Eight members of manager Joachim Loew's 23-man Germany squad for Euro 2012 hail from Bayern -- more even than Spain superclubs Barcelona (seven) and Real Madrid (five).
Here's a look at all the players, wearing both of their powerhouse squads' kits:
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER (midfielder)
Patrik Stollarz/Getty ImagesSchweinsteiger, with Bayern, against Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final.
Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty ImagesSchweinsteiger, with Germany, during a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Azerbaijan.
THOMAS MUELLER (midfielder)
Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesMueller, celebrating his goal against Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final.
John MacDougal/AFP/Getty ImagesMueller, with Germany, during the 2010 World Cup third-place match vs. Uruguay.
PHILIPP LAHM (defender)
Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesLahm defending against Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League semifinals.
John Thys/AFP/Getty ImagesLahm, with Germany, challenging Belgium's Eden Hazard during a Euro 2012 qualifying match.
MARIO GOMEZ (forward)
Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty ImagesGomez, with Bayern, scoring against Napoli in the 2012 Champions League.
Joern Pollex/Getty ImagesGomez, with Germany, during a friendly against Ukraine.
MANUEL NEUER (goalkeeper)
Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesNeuer, with Bayern, saving a penalty from Ronaldo during the Champions League semis.
Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty ImagesNeuer, with Germany, saving a shot against the Netherlands at a 2011 friendly.
JEROME BOATENG (defender)
Cristof Stache/AFP/Getty ImagesBoateng, left, in a mob of Bayern/Germany players with Mueller, Schweinsteiger and Gomez.
Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty ImagesBoateng, right, celebrating with Schweinsteiger after a goal against Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.
TONI KROOS (midfielder)
Cristof Stache/AFP/Getty ImagesKroos, with Bayern, in a Champions League match against Real Madrid.
Joern Pollex/Getty ImagesKroos, with Germany, battling with Gil Vermouth of Israel during a 2012 friendly.
HOLGER BADSTUBER (defender)
Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty ImagesBadstuber, with Bayern, in a DFB Cup match against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Boris Streubel/Getty ImagesBadstuber, with the Germany U-21s, during a match against Iceland in 2010.
TRIVIA
Which Bayern player boasts the most caps for Germany?
Bayern Munich lost the UEFA Champions League final in heartbreaking fashion. But many of the club's players might not need wait long for redemption.
And we mean many. Eight members of manager Joachim Loew's 23-man Germany squad for Euro 2012 hail from Bayern -- more even than Spain superclubs Barcelona (seven) and Real Madrid (five).
Here's a look at all the players, wearing both of their powerhouse squads' kits:
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER (midfielder)
Patrik Stollarz/Getty ImagesSchweinsteiger, with Bayern, against Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final.Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty ImagesSchweinsteiger, with Germany, during a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Azerbaijan.THOMAS MUELLER (midfielder)
Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesMueller, celebrating his goal against Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final.John MacDougal/AFP/Getty ImagesMueller, with Germany, during the 2010 World Cup third-place match vs. Uruguay.PHILIPP LAHM (defender)
Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesLahm defending against Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League semifinals.John Thys/AFP/Getty ImagesLahm, with Germany, challenging Belgium's Eden Hazard during a Euro 2012 qualifying match. MARIO GOMEZ (forward)
Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty ImagesGomez, with Bayern, scoring against Napoli in the 2012 Champions League.Joern Pollex/Getty ImagesGomez, with Germany, during a friendly against Ukraine.MANUEL NEUER (goalkeeper)
Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesNeuer, with Bayern, saving a penalty from Ronaldo during the Champions League semis.Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty ImagesNeuer, with Germany, saving a shot against the Netherlands at a 2011 friendly.JEROME BOATENG (defender)
Cristof Stache/AFP/Getty ImagesBoateng, left, in a mob of Bayern/Germany players with Mueller, Schweinsteiger and Gomez.Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty ImagesBoateng, right, celebrating with Schweinsteiger after a goal against Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.TONI KROOS (midfielder)
Cristof Stache/AFP/Getty ImagesKroos, with Bayern, in a Champions League match against Real Madrid.Joern Pollex/Getty ImagesKroos, with Germany, battling with Gil Vermouth of Israel during a 2012 friendly.HOLGER BADSTUBER (defender)
Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty ImagesBadstuber, with Bayern, in a DFB Cup match against Borussia Moenchengladbach.Boris Streubel/Getty ImagesBadstuber, with the Germany U-21s, during a match against Iceland in 2010. TRIVIA
Which Bayern player boasts the most caps for Germany?
Patrick Dorsey | email
PlaybookPatrick Dorsey is a Playbook editor. He has worked for the Web and newspapers, had a cup of craft service coffee in film school, and played in one Division III golf tournament (he shot 105).
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